- Impact
- 3,028
30 April 2003
The Government paid about $1 million for the Internet domain name NewZealand.com, it was revealed in Parliament yesterday.
Tourism Minister Mark Burton said it cost $US500,000 ($NZ910,580) and was a sound investment.
ACT MP Rodney Hide, who asked Mr Burton about it, said the deal was "crazy".
"That's the sort of dopiness that should have died out with the dot com crash," he said.
"There were other options... a suitable domain name could have been bought or obtained for so much less."
NewZealand.com was bought by New Zealand Way Ltd, which is owned by the Tourism Board, TradeNZ and Industry New Zealand.
Mr Burton said it would provide an invaluable portal for those interested in New Zealand tourism, commerce or industry.
"On the evidence and given the function it will perform, it was a sound investment."
Mr Burton said the South African Government had offered $US10 million for SouthAfrica.com and Korea.com was sold for $US5 million.
Mr Hide said he could not see how taxpayers were getting value for money.
"The domain name is no longer important. Names can be branded," he said.
Source:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2437674a11,00.html
